Quinn finished for season

Berea, Ohio  Browns quarterback Brady Quinn doesn’t regret playing with a broken right finger that will sideline him for the rest of this season and may require surgery.

Quinn did more damage to his finger when he started Sunday against the Houston Texans.

“I knew that was a consequence if I went in and played,” Quinn said Wednesday. “That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again.”

Quinn is now trying to decide whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint. Whatever he decides, the second-year QB, who waited 25 games to make his first NFL start, will miss the Browns’ final five games in what has been a disastrous season for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.

“It’s frustrating,” said the former Notre Dame standout, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.

“Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this.”

Before last week’s game, Quinn consulted with team doctors as well as noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Quinn was presented with three options: keep playing, immobilize his finger or have surgery. However, when it came down to whether he would suit up or not, Quinn said he made the call.

NFL

Bears DB sidelined

Lake Forest, Ill. — Chicago Bears defensive back Nathan Vasher has a fractured right hand and will miss Sunday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings when the teams meet for first place in the NFC North. Vasher, who had missed three games earlier this season due to an injury to his right wrist and thumb, was hurt Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. Bears coach Lovie Smith said Vasher also reinjured his right thumb.

Tynes seeks commutation

East Rutherford, N.J. — Place-kicker Lawrence Tynes of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants has asked the Bush administration to commute a lengthy sentence given to his brother for distributing marijuana.

Tynes, who kicked the winning field goal in the NFC title game in January, maintains that the 27-year sentence that his brother Mark is serving in a federal facility in Arkansas was excessive for the crime.

“My brother is not asking for a pardon, he is asking for a commutation, which would reduce his sentence,” Tynes said Wednesday after the Giants finished practice for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.

Cowboys shelve RB Jones

Irving, Texas — Rookie running back Felix Jones was officially placed on injured reserve by the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, ending what had been an extremely productive rookie season.

Dallas signed defensive back Tra Battle off San Diego’s practice squad to take his place on the roster and said Battle might play today against Seattle.

BOWLING

PBA to induct Duke

Seattle — Norm Duke, Del Ballard Jr. and John Handegard will be inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame during the PBA 50th Anniversary Gala in Las Vegas on Jan. 24. The inductees will be the first since 2000 in the performance category.

Duke, from Clermont, Fla., won 30 career PBA Tour titles, including six major wins. He recently became the first player in PBA history to win three consecutive majors.

GOLF

Daly wants focus on golf

Melbourne, Australia — John Daly is back in Australia after six years, hoping to put years of golfing decline and personal self-destruction behind him in the country where he had one of his most dramatic meltdowns.

“Everybody has problems, and I’m a fighter. I’m a survivor, and I’ll get through anything people can throw at me,” Daly said Wednesday. “I’ve done a lot of stupid things I take responsibility for, but a lot of it came upon me. It’s just life. We’ve got to live it and get through it.”

BASEBALL

Charity parts with Clemens

Roger Clemens has been asked to end his involvement with a charity golf tournament he has played host to for four years as the fallout from the Mitchell Report continues to haunt the seven-time Cy Young award winner, the Daily News reported in Wednesday’s edition. Although Clemens helped raise millions of dollars for charities associated with the event, the Giff Nielsen Day of Golf for Kids was held Nov. 11 at Houston’s Shadow Hawk Golf Club without him.

Rangers release pitcher

Arlington, Texas — Kameron Loe was put on unconditional-release waivers Wednesday by the Texas Rangers, freeing him to sign with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of Japan’s Pacific League. The 27-year-old right-hander was 1-0 with a 3.23 earned-run average in 14 relief appearances over five stints with the Rangers this year.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Two FSU players arrested

Tallahassee, Fla. — Two Florida State freshman wide receivers have been arrested on misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a fight in the student union two weeks ago.

University officials say 20-year-olds Bert Reed and Cameron Wade turned themselves in Wednesday at the Leon County Jail and were released after posting bond. They and three other players who participated in the fight were suspended for Florida State’s last game against Boston College.

Vols’ AD: No hiring yet

Knoxville, Tenn. — Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton says he has not offered the Vols coaching job to anyone yet. There was at least one news report Wednesday that Tennessee had made an offer to former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and that Kiffin was believed to be assembling a staff of assistants.

Heels sticking with QB

Chapel Hill, N.C. — T.J. Yates is expected to start at quarterback for North Carolina this week at Duke. Coach Butch Davis said after Wednesday’s practice that Yates has worked out enough mechanical issues to keep hold of his starting job.